Jar opening device



Dem 1931- w. s HALSTEAD ET AL 1,334,307

JAR OPENING DEVICE Filed June 5, 1929 6- gmwnto'w 4r S M/mat Patented Dec. 1, 1931 warren STATES PATENT OFFICE NILLIAM S. HALSTEAD AND CHARLES E. CLEETON, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA JAR OPENING imvrcn Application filed June 5,

This invention relates to a device adapted to be used in opening jars and in removing or attaching covers to jars, bottles or similar containers.

The device embraced by this invention is particularly directed toward means for removing caps or covers. from jars and other containers. For example, the device is particularly adapted to be used in the removal of metallic covers from glass or ceramic containers, the covering being applied to the container while the contents are heated, so as to cause the cover to be held on by means of a suitable gasket between the cover and the container, and assisted by a partial vacuum formed within the container. Covers of this character are hard to remove, inasmuch as the edges of the cover are tightly crimped about the gasket. When an attempt is made to remove the gasket by means of a sharp implement, there is danger of shattering the edge of the container and thus contaminating the contents of the jar. Furthermore, the device may be employedin removing covers threadedly connected to a jar or container such as, for example, the metallic threaded covers applied to what is commonly known as a Mason jar.

These covers are also placed upon the jar when the contents thereof are in a heated condition, and the partial vacuum created within these containers holds the covers tightly in place, so that-it is difficult to unscrew the covers.

An object of this invention is to disclose and provide a simple device by means of which the covers of variously shaped jars and containers may bereadily removed. Another object is to disclose and provide a devicewhich is capable of being used in removing covers of various sizes.

A still further ob'ect is to disclose and provide a device which is relatively simple in construction, and which may be readily employed for the purpose of removing covers from containers. I

Other objects, uses and advantages of the device embraced by this invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of two preferred embodiments 1929. Serial no. 368,635.

thereof. In describing the invention, reference will be had to the appended drawings, in which:

F ig. 1 is a plan'view of one form of device;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the device shown in F l.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken along line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section of a portion of the device illustratedin Fig. 1, the section being taken along the plane 44 indicated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a vertical section of a portion of the device shown in Fig. 1,- the section being taken along line 5-5. v i

I Fig. 6 is a front elevation, partly broken away, of a modified form of device.

Fig. 7 is a vertical section of the'device shown in Fig. 6', the section being taken along line 77 thereof. V

The device illustrated in the appended drawings comprises essentially, a supporting or main member such as a ring or ring like member 10 provided with suspending or fastenmg means either attached to said ring or made integral therewith, said suspending means, for example, comprising a back plate 11, maintained in spaced relation to the ring 10 by means of a web 12. The backing or suspending plate 11 may be provided with a plurality of apertures 13, so as to permit the attachment of the entire device, by means of suitable screws, onto a' table, wall or other fixed support. 'Asshown in the drawings, the backing or supportingplate 11 is not rectangular or square, but instead is trape zoidal in form. v

A suitableholder 14:, provided with lips 15 may be attachedtoa fixed support such as the wall 16, by any suitable means as, for example the screws 17, and the device of'this invention'then slipped into the holder 14, the edges of the trapezoidal back or suspending plate 11 engaging with the grooves formed by the lips 15 so as to retain the devicein position. In this manner the device mav be readily and firmly attached to a means adapted to receive the suspending plate .11 and, if-desired, otherdevices may be substituted for the device of this invention in such holder 14.

The device is preferably provided with a movable jaw 18 and with means for moving said jaw 18 diametrically across the ring 10. If desired, the ring 10 be. provided with a recess 19 adapted to receive the jaw 18. Means for moving the jaw 18 diametrically across the ring 10 may comprise a threads shaft 20 journaled in the ring 10 and extending diametrically across said ring. As shown in the drawings, the shaft 20 is iournaled in opposed lugs 21 and 22, although as has been stated before, the shaft 20 may be journaled in the ring 10.

The shaft 20 may be threaded throughout its length and said threaded ortion received in an aperture or suitable bearing in the lug 21. The shaft 20 maybe of reduced diameter at the other end, as indicated at 23, and said reduced section of the shaft 20 may be received in a suitable bearing in the lug 22.

A crank handle 24 may be firmly attached to the portion 23 of the shaft 20, thus providing a means for rotating said shaft. The boss of the crank handle 24:, as well as the increased diameter of the major portion of the shaft 20 prevents the said shaft from moving longitudinally. If desired a suitable washer may be introduced between the shoulder formed at the termination of the thrr-a ded portion of the shaft 20 and between said shoulder and lug 22. The jaw 18 is threadedly mounted upon the shaft 20, and in order 7 to prevent said jaw 18 from rotating about the shaft 20, said aw 18 may cooperate with a suitable guide such as, for example, the rod 25 held in position above theshaft 20 and parallel thereto by the lugs 21 and 22.

Means have thus been provided for movins. a jaw diametrically across. the ring or other supporting member provided with means for fastening the same to a support, and for preventing said jaw from rotating during such movement. In order to firmly grip the covers of various containers in said device, the inner surface of the rin 10 which is faced by the movable jaw 18 is preferably provided with a serrated surface indicated at 26. Such serrations preferably extend vertically or axially of the ring. A horizontal groove 27 is preferably formed in the serrations 26, said groove preferably lying in a plane substantially perpendicular to said serrations and substantially parallel to the bottom plane of the ring 10. This groove 27 i should be of sufficient size and depth to operably receive and cooperate with protuberances, shoulders or sharp edges formed in the edges of covers of containers.

Similar serrations 28 are preferably formed in the movable jaw 18, said serrations facing the serrated inner surface of the ring 10. Furthermore, a groove 29 substantially parallel to: the, groove 27; is preferably formed in the movable jaw 18, thus breaking the continuity of the serrations 28.

The operation of the device will be readily understood from the hereinabove descrip tion. A suitable jar or container, such as for example the container 30, is placed within the ring 10 with an edge of the cover or closure element 31 within the groove 27, formed in the serrated inner surface of the ring 10. The crank handle 24: is then operated so as to bring the movable stepped jaw 18 into contact with the opposed edge of the closure element 31, the edge of said element 31 being directed into the groove 29 of the serrated face of the movable jaw 18. After the container has thus been firmly gripped between the stationary jaw and the movable jaw 18, the container 30 may then be manually moved or reciprocated so as to detach the container 30 from the cover 31, thus firmly held in the device.

It has been found that covers can be very easily removed in this manner, without injuring glass containers and without spilling or in any manner contaminating the contents of said containers. If the container which it is desired to open has a closure which is threadedly mounted on said container, the cover may be gripped between the serrated inner surface of the ring and the movable jaw, thereby causing the container to become suspended from the horizontal supporting member 10 in spaced relation to the vertical surface 16, and the container then manually turned so as to remove the cover.

. It will be noted that the stationary aw or serrated and stepped face 26 and the movable. stepped jaw 18 form a downwardly ex tending opening spaced from the vertical surface 16 from which the horizontal supporting member 10 is supported, this opening being adapted to receive the upper closure end of a vessel. The threaded shaft 20 acts as a means for limiting theupward insertion of the vessel into the opening. The closure of the vessel thus inserted into the opening is then gripped and held suspended from the horizontal member 10.

The device permits the use of both hands in controlling the movement of the container and, therefor, a much greater force may be applied in removing the covers.

In the modification of the device illustrated in. Figs. 6 and 7, substantially the same con struction is employed, with the exception that the means for preventing the rotation of the movable guide 18 on the threaded shaft 20 comprises a guide member 32, rigidly connected to or made a part of the lugs 21 and 22, said guide member 32 being received in a recess 33 formed in the upper portion of the movable jaw 18. It may be said that the construction shown in Figs. 6 and 7 is somewhat'more economical as it does not necessitate the formation of an aperture in the 18, through which the'guide 25 need be inserted. j V 7 It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the particular constructions shown and described hereinabove, as numerous changes and modifications may be made without departing from the essential elements of this invention. All such changes and modifications as come within the appended claims are embraced thereby.

We claim:

1. In a device of the character described, the combination of a ring adapted to receive a closure member, supporting means attached to said ring, a movable jaw within said ring, means for moving said jaw substantially diametrically across the aperture in said ring, serrations on one face of said movable jaw, serrations on the inner surface of said ring faced by said movable jaw, and a groove in both said serrations, said groove being adapted to engage with an edge of a closure member.

2. A device of the character described, comprising in combination, a ring adapted to receive a closure member, means for supporting said ring, a movable jaw within said ring, means for moving said jaw substantially diametrically across the aperture in said ring, said means including a threaded shaft, and means for rotating said shaft, serrations on the inner surface of said ring faced by said movable jaw, serrations on the face of said movable jaw, and a groove in both said serrations, said groove being adapted to engage with an edge of a closure member.

3. A device of the character described, comprising a ring, supporting means attached to said ring, a guide extending substantially diametrically across the aperture in said ring, a movable jaw adapted to cooperate with said guide, means for moving said aw along said guide, serrations on the inner surface of said ring facing said movable aw, serrations on 7 said movable jaw, and a groove in both said serrations, said groove being adapted to engage with an edge of a closure member.

4. A device of the character described, comprising a ring, supporting means attached to said ring, substantially diametrically opposed lugs extending from said ring, a threaded shaft j ournaled in said lugs, means for rotating said shaft, a guide connecting said lugs and parallel to said shaft, a movable I jaw threadedly mounted on said shaft and adapted to cooperate with said guide, serrations on the inner surface of said ring beneath one of said lugs, and beneath said shaft, and serrations on said movable jaw facing serrations in said ring.

5. A device of the character described, comprising a ring, supporting means attached to said ring, substantially diametrically opposed lugs extending from said ring, a threaded shaft journal-ed in said lugs, means for rotating said shaft, a guideconnec'ting said lugs and parallel to said shaft, a movable jaw threadedly. mounted on said shaft and adapted to cooperate with said guide, serrations on the innersurface of said ring beneath one of said lugs, and beneath said shaft, serrations on said movable jaw facing serrations in said ring, and a groove in both said serrations, said groove being adapted to engage with an edge of a closure member.

6. A device for removing closures from vessels comprising a horizontal member with an opening below for receiving the upper closure end of a vessel, and having means Within the opening operable to grip and pre vent the portion of the vessel entering said opening from turning; and means for supporting from a vertical surface, and maintaining said member horizontal with its opening sufliciently spaced from the vertical surface so that a vessel, the closure of which has been inserted and gripped in said opening, may be grasped and rotated and withdrawn while maintaining said vessel in a substantially vertical position.

.7. A device for removing closures from vessels, comprising a horizontal member with a downwardly extending opening for receiving the upper closure end of a vessel, and having means within the opening operable to grip and prevent the portion of the vessel entering said opening from turning; and means for supporting said member from a vertical surface, said supporting means being detachable by a vertical upward movement of said member, said supporting means being adapted to maintain said member horizontal with its opening spaced from the vertical surface so that a vessel, the closure of which has been inserted and gripped in said opening, may be grasped and rotated and withdrawn while maintaining said vessel in a substantially vertical position.

8 A device for removing closures from vessels, comprising a horizontal member with a downwardly extending opening for receiving the upper closure end of a vessel, and having means within the opening operable to grip and prevent the closure portion of the vessel entering said opening from turning; said horizontal member being provided with means for limiting the upward insertion of the vessel into the opening; and means for supporting said member from a vertical surface, and maintaining said member horizontal with its opening spaced from 1 the vertical surface so that a vessel, the closure of which has been inserted and gripped in said opening, may be grasped and rotated and withdrawn while maintaining said vessel in a substantially vertical position. 9. A device for removing closures from vessels, comprising a horizontal member with a downwardly extending opening for receivin g the upper closure end of a vessel, and hav ing means within the opening operable to grip and prevent the closure portion of the vessel entering said opening from turning; said horizontal member being provided with means for limiting the upward insertion of the vessel into the opening; and means for supporting said member from a vertical surface, said supporting means being detachable by a vertical upward movement of said member, said supporting means being adapted to maintain said member horizontal with its opening spaced from the vertical surface so that a vessel, the closure of which has been inserted and gripped in said opening, may be grasped and rotated and withdrawn while maintaining said vessel in a substantially vertical position.

10. In a device for removing closures from vessels, the combination of a substantially horizontal supporting member provided with means whereby the member may be supported from a vertical surface and maintained in a substantially horizontal position, a threaded shaft journaled in said horizontal member, a stationary vertical jaw carried by said horizontal member below said shaft, a jaw provided with a stepped face threadedly mounted on said threaded shaft, and means for rotating the shaft to move said jaw toward and away from the stationary jaw, said jaws forming a downwardly extending opening spaced from the vertical surface and adapted to receive the upper closure end of a vessel.

11. In a device for removing closures from vessels, the combination of a substantially horizontal supporting member provided with means whereby themember may be supported from a vertical surface and maintained in a substantially horizontal position, a threaded shaft ournaled in said horizontal member, a stationary vertical jaw provided with a serrated and stepped face carried by said horizontal member below said shaft, a jaw provided with a stepped face threadedly mounted on said threaded shaft, said jaws forming a downwardly extending openin spaced from the vertical surface and adaptec to receive the upper closure end of a vessel, means for rotating the shaft to move said jaw toward and away from the stationary jaw to grip the closure of a vessel inserted in the opening between said jaws and hold said vessel suspended from said horizontal member in spaced relation from the vertical surface to permit the vessel to be grasped and moved while the closure is held by the jaws.

12. In a device for removing closures from vessels, the combination of a substantially horizontal supporting member provided with means whereby the member may be supportedfrom a vertical surface and maintained in a substantially horizontal position, a threadedshaft journaled in said horizontal member, a stationary vertical jaw provided with a serrated and stepped face carried by said horizontal member below said shaft, a jaw provided with a stepped face threadedly mounted on said threaded shaft, said jaws forming a downwardly extending opening spaced from the vertical surface and adapted to receive the upper closure end of a vessel, said horizontal member being provided with means for limiting the upward insertion of a vessel into the opening, means for rotating the shaft to move said jaw toward and away from the stationary jaw to grip the closure of a vessel inserted in the opening between said jaws and hold said vessel suspended from said horizontal member in spaced relation from the vertical surface to permit the vessel to be grasped and moved while the closure is held by the jaws.

Signed at Los Angeles, California, this 81st day of May 1929.

WILLIAM S. HALSTEAD. CHARLES E. CLEETON. 

